Interview with Gonzales Machine and Forge

Michael Vosti – Manager, Gonzales Machine and Forge Inc
831 675 3421 work 831 214 3840 cell
29521 Gonzales River Road, Gonzales, CA

Phone interview with Jorge Heraud

They manufacture implements and represent a few companies too. (They don’t have a website)
Manufacturing side: They build custom bars for farmers. Each farmer wants something slightly different to match what they are doing. Eg mount bars in the front belly of back of the tractor, different tools mounted to the bar, etc
Representation: Biggest one is Tatu Marchesan, a large planter and tillage company from Brazil.
According to Manta.com they sell $2.5-5M

Competitors are AgFrame in Gonzales and Sutton Agricultural Enterprises in Salinas. AgFrame represents EcoDan. He gave me the name of “Jimmy @ 831 675 2580 works for AgFrame” if we want to contact them. He said EcoDan is really not needed if you have a good driver.

He said their standard 160 inch tool bar for rear mounting in a three point hitch would be one that has 2 bars of 2 ¼ inch each. They sell for around $3K. They have also made some stronger ones that are triple ones that in addition to having the two above mentioned bars have one 4 x 4 bar with two gauge wheels. They would sell for about $4K. Staying within 2 ¼ bars means that it’s a lot easier to mount things to them as brackets start getting a lot more expensive. I asked him to send me some pictures.

If we built something like this, who would be a good dealer for it? An implement dealer that has some ability to customize, adapt and support (Eg them, AgFrame and Sutton Ag). They would probably be interested distributing it.

Tractor dealers could too, but it needs to be ready to mount. A standard machine needs to fit 95% of the users because they don’t have the ability to customize / change. Coast Tractor is a good example. http://www.coastaltractor.com/. They sell a few implements. They sell and rent.

Where do you / others find about new things?
Trade shows – World Ag Expo is the biggest. It’s not too expensive. They did a 40x40 outside booth about 6 years ago and cost them less than $1000. You spend more manning it for sure. “Everyone goes there and talks about what they saw”.

Magazines: Main ones in rank order are: Vegetable Grower, Ag Source, Farm Equipment and Tractor House.

He is planning on going to the World Ag Expo. We agreed to meet there. Should call him at his cellphone. They will be exhibiting in the Tatu Marchesan booth.